Wordless Monday...

Pre-digital camera, pre-home remodel, pre-housecleaner, circa 2003
What could Oprah possibly be saying to my girls?

The winner receives recognition on my blog! Sorry, no prize this time. I still haven't personally delivered the Target Gift Card to my friend Jin who is the winner of last week's contest. Congratulations Jin! Your story was brutally honest and funny, now that's what I call a real winner.

Believe

I've been putting off this post for 2 days now b/c I didn't really want to type the words.
Kevin (vman) passed away on Thursday at about 8:30 am Eastern time.
Here are the 3 pics I took of him last year when we met. In case you have not been following my blog for that long, let me explain how we became friends and how we came to meet.
It started when I saw Kevin's first post on the Colon Club. I left a comment on his blog, Hey just noticed we are the same age and diagnosed the same week with Stage III Colon Cancer. Just wanted to say hi. From there, our friendship really took off. Unfortunately, our cancer journeys were not destined to be similiar. Kevin's surgery wound did not heal and chemo was delayed by several months. In that time, his cancer spread.
Last year, as my cancer journey was coming to a close, Scott told me to pick a vacation spot anywhere (well, let's clarify that; anywhere on American Soil that was warm and within driving distance, so yeah, basically anywhere you want, Michele). I have always wanted to visit the Outer Banks so that's what I chose. When I told Kevin where we were going, he told me we would be passing right by his house on the way to the Outer Banks. So we made plans to stop by.
Scott agreed to this, b/c let's face it, he was spoiling me rotten at that time.
It was an amazing visit. We could have all talked for hours. Unfortunately, the kids were tired and we didn't get to stay long.
So here are the pics I took. Kevin was a little embarrassed that he had the chemo bag strapped on but I didn't care. Emily loved sitting on the bike. That's Caroline the Duck on the bike, we took her with us and posed her on all the tourist spots. That's Kevin's wife Brenda in the last pic, on the left.

Kevin always signed his emails and posts with "Believe". He believed he would be healed here on Earth, but he knew that if that didn't happen, he would receive healing in Heaven.

What do I believe? I believe he is up There right now, riding his bike. Oh, he loved riding! It was really hard for him in the last several months to be unable to ride. I remember when I saw those 3 bikes in his garage, I gasped at their beauty. (He had 3, and I think they were unofficially labeled, His, Hers and His).

I believe Kevin was up There laughing yesterday when I FINALLY won a radio contest and my prize was a free rental at a hall, which I have now decided I will use to host a fundraiser/party to benefit Colon Cancer in some form. When I won, my first thought was This is Divine Intervention. Then I knew it must be Kevin. Let's face it, I've been trying to win something on the radio for YEARS. About 7:30 am Central time, I win BIG. That's exactly 24 hours after he passed away.

I am so Thankful that I met Kevin, both online and in person. He was a true friend. I believe we will meet again someday.

Ride like the wind, vman. You will be greatly missed.

Love,

Michele

Here is Kevin's online obituary

http://westfamilyfuneralservices.com/obituaries.php?page=0&op=view&id=310

Take the Bull by the Horns

If you read this post, you probably have an idea about how marriage works in our household. You could say we've got a good thing goin'. But sometimes this happens...

You might be surprised to know what causes us to lock horns. I'm not talking about fighting over money (or the lack thereof), fighting over division of household chores, or anything as simple as how to discipline the kids. Not us! Our horns lock up when our kids get sick. That's right. The first sign of a sick kid and the horns begin to protrude from our head and we begin stomping and snorting. The issue? Who will stay home with the sick kid.
There's no Policy & Procedure Manual for who stays home. We both begin to rapidly list all the things we have to do at work, how hard it will be to miss, how we will have to rearrange things, the list goes on and on between us. It really comes down to this- Whose job is more important? Some days, my job is more important. Other days, especially in the spring, Scott's job is way more important. But sometimes we have to lock our horns and see who comes out a winner.
Sometimes it's just a matter of logistics. If you are a parent in a multi-child home, here's how the conversation goes: Ok, you take ___, I'll take___, I'll pick ___ up at ___, then come home at ___, and then you can ___ and then I'll ___ until 5 and then you can ___ until 7. Sound familiar?
Now it's your turn to tell me something that causes you to lock horns with someone. It could be your spouse, your child or maybe your own parent! I'll pick the most creative answer and the winner gets a $10 Target gift card!
I can't wait to see your answers!

I did NOT...

I do NOT suspect Megan is faking illness to get out of school. She would NEVER do that. Not my daughter. She did not talk cheerfully on the phone to me and then when I asked how she was feeling, her voice did NOT suddenly deteriorate. She did NOT send me a text that said "Can I have chocolate. It might make my chest feel better".

I did NOT sneak over to Kohls today to see the clearance racks. Upon seeing a cute sweater on clearance for $4, I did not buy 1 in every color- gray, black, brown, green, purple and blue.

Never in a million years would I bribe Emily with french fries. Especially when we had an important meeting at the bank. She did NOT sit on the floor of the bank office, eating fries and suckers. She did NOT take the sucker stick and announce in a sultry voice, "I'm smoking". That would be way too embarrassing.

I did NOT win this plastic goat from my friend Stephanie Saturday night. That would never happen b/c who would buy a plastic goat for a party favor?And who would announce that all the party favors were new except one, and that one was an item she no longer wanted. NOT my friend Stephanie!

Please tell me what you have NOT done lately, just so I'll feel better!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my parents! 44 years of wedded bliss! Congratulations!

Love,

Michele

Fish Tales

My worst nightmare come true...murder by exercise. Did you see this story?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29791289/from/ET/?gt1=43001
I always knew exercise was dangerous...that's why I've been avoiding it for years.

Here is Emily begging for a pet fish this week....
Here I am, telling her no a thousand times... (before you feel sorry for Emily, please remember we own 5 cats, 1 dog and a lizard)

Picture us at someone's office. Emily says Mommy look at that beautiful fish tank. In fact, it was beautiful and I oohed and awed over it.

Picture Emily saying "Mommy just think of all the positive things that can happen when you own a fish".

I'll be making a trip to Petco this week.

My kids aren't spoiled.

NOT mine.

A Letter to My Beloved Nephew.

Dearest Declan,

In just a few short hours, it will be March 19th, a date that will be forever marked in our hearts as the day you were born.

I will never forget how scared we all were that day, knowing it would take a miracle for you to survive your birth. We got that miracle and for 65 days we all clung to the hope that you would receive complete healing.

I remember Day 64, the moment your mommy called me to say things were bad. I remember Day 65, when we arrived at Children's Mercy and we all realized just how bad things were. Your mommy and daddy were so gracious to let us spend some of those last precious hours with you. I am so grateful that I was able to hold you and tell you how much you were loved. I kissed you and looked at all your tiny fingers and toes. You were so beautiful!

Do you know that I think of you every single day? So many things remind me of you! Every time I hold a baby at work, every time I see a little onesie in the store, every time I hear the word "preemie", I always think of you.

If there is one thing you should know, it is this: You are so loved and your legacy will live forever in the hearts of all who were blessed to know you. You will always be our beloved baby Declan.

Tomorrow we will all quietly celebrate your birthday in our own special ways. Look for some balloons tomorrow afternoon, as we send them up to you. The girls and I will write a special message on each one.

Happy Birthday Declan.

Aunt Mickey Loves You.